A New Chapter

 It's been a long time,

A struggled climb,

A long walk,

An arduous run,

Falling in, down, and up.

And now here we are,

A new chapter that we only

Prayed for,

Hoped for,

Dreamed about.

From the tears and failures

That paved the ragged bridge

Of this present tomorrow,

Here we are standing on the brink

Almost too lost to feel

The giddy feeling of finally,

Finally,

Finally.

With broken hearts and 

Fractured faith,

We step on,

Step.

Step.

Another step.

It felt like it would never come

To this.

Still another step,

As we cross the bridge.

From this moment on,

It's the beginning.

#rmpsd 22.8.21

Dear Love,

 Dear Love,

When I said, "I hope you hurt!"

I wasn't thinking well. 

Or maybe I was. 

But it was mostly because I was incensed.

I opened myself to you.

Bared my burdens and losses,

My pains and regrets.

Even my secret joys and plans.

And yet you replied

With your silence

And the news of loving

Someone else.

Maybe Congreve was right

When he wrote about The Mourning Bride.

"Heaven has no rage, like love to hatred turned,

Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorned."

Only I don't hate you.

It was a momentary rage

In which my mouth opened 

And uttered a proposterous curse.

"I hope you hurt!"

But I didn't expect it will be like this.

With you publicly slighted,

With you bravely smiling still

Even when your eyes are full of sorrow,

And your lips look stiff of smiling.

I want to reach out and touch your face,

To tell you it's going to be okay.

That it will be better with time.

That the pain will fade away.

Like the pain you caused me,

With your callous ingenuity,

And preference for paper-deep beauty.

I can still hear the words on paper,

And your silent laugh full of love

But not for me.

I wished you were deeply hurt.

Yes.

But not like this. 

With you working like there's no tomorrow,

While someone else moves on

Without you.

Took away your smile,

Which I begrudged you many months ago.

Did I really cause this?

Or was it your people-loving personality?

Which always craves praises,

Upon praises, upon praises.

Along with reaffirmation.

I knew all these, but I loved you still.

Nevertheless, I take back my words.

I hope your hurt will only last a moment.

And you find a firmer footing,

Where the person within,

Does not need any validation,

Except from yourself alone.

So that you may accept love,

A love that's true. 

A love that's deep.

A love that will fill in the void.

May your pain ebb away.

May your hurt fade away.

And your hurt turn into a road

For a brighter happy ending.

R.M. 2021.08.23

Thirty-Five Years

 Behind you lies thirty-four years

Of happiness and pain

Of struggles and excitement

The endless parade of things to do

And pit-stops for refreshment.

Far and few in between,

But each step secure in its direction.

You are walking far, far,

As far as the star-lined pavement

Can take your heart and butterfly dreams.

In front of you lies miles and miles

Of unpaved yellow roads,

Roads not taken,

Roads not yet there,

And roads full of love and regrets.

Still, hold your head up high

And fly, run, walk,

Whatever you need to find

And touch those dreams

You've always kept in your heart.

Today, take a while to remember

All the good things that passed by,

All the bad things that made you cry.

Let your heart ache and rejoice

For a while--just a little while.

It is one of those rare times

When you can look back 

And look ahead.

Plan your steps based on your regrets,

On your shining thirty fifth year.

R.M. 2021.07.12

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